When I began to read ... I had a suspicion of where we might be headed: it's one that appeared at the Old Farts' Club a few months ago. But enjoyable, second time around. The guy must have surprised his manager. When I was finding it difficult to find a pastorate, following our parting, as clergy didn't DO that, over 40 years ago, sometimes when I looked for positions in sales, the interviewer would ask what sales experience I might have had. "About twenty years", was my reply. "Oh, in what field of sales were you working?", s/he continued. "I was a clergyperson", was my reply. "A clergyman - what does that profession have to do with sales?" asked the interviewer, with raised eyebrows. "You're telling a 2,000 year old story , that's been heard many times before. It requires that one commit one's life to high ideals - of respect for others as for one's self, with courtesy, kindness, and compassion for all, and sharing of one's time, talent and treasure with others ... ... including with what many consider faceless nonentities on the other side of the world ... ... have you ever tried it?", was my somewhat challenging description of the sales task carried on by clergypeople. "Furthermore ... you have to convince a congregation where you are the minister that they'd be better off keeping you than figuring that they could do better with a different minister ... and that on a continuing basis:it's not a one-time sale!", I added. Most agreed, saying that they'd never thought of it that way. Hope you're having a great weekend, everyone. If your Dad's still around - give him a hug and a kiss. ole joyfuelled ... once (upon a time) a clergy/salesperson

Think first ... ... talk later. o j, O.K.?

It took me a while to see ... the joke. o j

Such stories make some of us oldsters quiver ... ... with laughter. Was there a quaver in his voice, as well ... as for a number of us old farts? o j